Driving mechanism



Sept. 21 ,1926.

w. J; EICHENBERG RIVING MECHANISM Filed 1mm 22, 1918 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 William J Eichenbeg.

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Sgpt. 2-1 1926.

w. .1. EICHENBERG DRIVING MECHANI SM Filed July 22, 19 3 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5mm William Jl liclie'nbecg.

Patented Sept. 21,1926.

A I 1,500,460 ATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM'JaEICHE NBERG, or ToLEno, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 'ro INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH CORPO ATION, OF TOLEDO, 01110, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

DRIVING MECHANISM.

Application filed July 22, 1918. Serial No. 246,139.

This invention relates to a drive mechanism applicable forstarting purposes, and adaptable to be inserted in the gearing between the starting motor and an internal combustion engine.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a yielding driving mechanism in which the resilient elements of the drive are outside the direct line of power transmission.

Another object is to utilize a type of drive which automatically accommodates itself to variations in crankshaft speed in starting, due to differences in engine cylinder compression. K

Still another object is to provide a motor drive which automatically makes driving connection when the engine is to be started and automatic disengagement when the engine is operating under its own power.

Further objects, and objects relating to economies of manufacture and details of construction, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow:

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices described in the following description. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. I A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is an end View of the driving mechanism looking toward the motor, with the driving elements in inoperative position. Figure II is a similar view, showing the driving elements in operative position.

Figure III is a side view of the mechanism, partly in section with the parts 1n driving relationship.

Figure IV is similar to Figure III, w1th the Various parts in section, and

Figure V is a detail, plan view of the drivin elements.

imilar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the numbered parts of the drawings, I have shown a fragmentary portion of an electric motor 1 of the series type which has been found preferable for starting purposes. The motor has a drivmg shaft 2, the end of which is adapted to seat in a bearing 3, which bearing may be either 1ntegral with the engine structure or an extension of the motor casing. On the driving shaft. ad'acent the motor is positioned a circular plate 4, which has" a loose bearing on the motor shaft. A sleeve 5 is mounted on the shaft adjacent the plate 4 and on the inner bearing surface of this sleeve an elongated key-way 6 is out, which key-way is adapted to have sliding bearing on a key 7 fixed in the motor shaft. The outer end of this sleeve 5 is formed with a circular plate 8 integral therewith and similar in dimensions to that of the plate 4 and on opposite sides of the plate on its outer face extend two V-shaped teeth 9 for a purpose hereinafter to be described. The sleeve 5 is normally urged outward by means of a coil spring 10 which is secured on the shaft intermediate the circular plates 6 and 4, which form end portions therefor.

Positioned along the shaft exterior to the sleeve 5 is a inion 11 freely mounted upon the shaft and extended to form parallel V-shaped teeth 12 similar in shape to the teeth 9 but extending in an opposite direction thereto so that opposite edges of any two opposing teeth extend in parallel relation with each other. The outer ends of the pinion 11 are cut away so as to form bearings for two'parallel side plates 13 and 14, corresponding ends of each of said plates being bent in toward each other and then straightened to form contacting terminals 15 and 16 which are rigidly secured together by machine screws 17. The other ends of the side plates extend beyond the pinion 11 to a distance suflicient for the formation of bearings for a second pinion 18 which may have a diameter similar to that of the pinion 11 and is adapted to mesh therewith.

Theouter end of the pinion 18 is extend- 9 ed to form a non-circular block 19 shown in the drawing as substantially square, the corners of which are slightly rounded as illustrated in Figures I and II. The block terminates in an outwardly extending pin 20. Positioned intermediate the first-named pinion 11 and the bearing 3 of the motor shaft is a triangular-shaped plate 21, which is rigidly secured to stationary parts of the mechanism and which also has a bearing on the motor shaft. A portion of the plate adj acent the pinion 18 is slotted to form a runway 22 for the squared block 19, as clearly indicated in Figures I and II. Inasmuch as movement of the block and plates 13 and the pivot to form a circular aperture with.

a diameter greater than the diagonal through the square block 19. It is therefore apparent that rotation of-the block is prevented in the narrow portion of the runway, but that as the block slides along the smooth external edge of the slot, it will reach a point where rotation of the block can be effected with ease. The end' of the run-way opposite from the rounded portion is straight and against this straight end the block is held through the medium of a coil spring 23, one end of which is secured to a pin 24 on the tri-angular plate 21 and the other end of which is curved to form a bearing surrounding the pin 20 on the block 19.

In the operation of the device with the parts in inoperative position, as indicated by Figure I, when the shaft is given rotation such as is indicated by the curved arrow in Figure IV, the motion will be transmitted from the motor shaft through the key 7, sleeve 5, teeth 9 and 12, to the pinion 11. The pinion 11 in rotating will also tend to rotate the pinion 18, but inasmuch as the pinion 18 is in the narrowed portion of the run-way 22, being held in this position by the spring 23, rotation of the pinion 18 is prevented. The rotational force of the pinion 11, however, will inasmuch as the pinion 18 is pivoted on the motor shaft through.

plates 13 and 14, give translating movement to the pinion 18 from the narrowed portion of the run-way to the enlarged circular portion, whereupon the pinion 18, which will have moved into mesh with the gear 25 of the engine, will be free to take on rotational movement.

It is apparent that the inertia of the engine member 25 cannot be immediately overcome by the force applied through the pinion 18, and, consequently, free movement of the pinion 11 is suddenly halted.- If provision were not made to take up this sudden stoppage of the movable parts due to enmeshment with the engine gear, serious breakage would undoubtedly result. However, as soon as the gear 18 meshes with the engine gear, the teeth 12 of the pinion 11 exert a 'carnming force on the teeth 9 of the sleeve 5, forcing this sleeve inwardly against the elastic force of the spring 10.

It is therefore apparent that the shock caused by the engagement of the driving elements with the engine gear is largely absorbed by the inward motion of the sleeve against the spring, and in this way protection against disastrous effects accompanying the starting operation is provided for. \Vhen the engine starts up under its own power, the greatly increased peripheral speed of the engine gear will cause the pinion 18 to move away from the engine member, out of mesh therewith, into the nartending to decrease spring breakage. It is.

also apparent that by virtue of the sliding engagement of the teeth 9 and 12 in connection with the elastic force of the spring 10 that the variation in the resistance offered by the machine load is quickly and readily taken care of. Attention is also directed to the fact that engagement and disengagement of the drive of the engine gear is made in an entirely automatic way.

I am aware that the specific embodiment of my invention herein shown and described, is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit thereof, and, therefore, I desire to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureJoy Letters Patent, is:

1. In a motor drive for internal combustion engines, the combination of a driving shaft; a pinion on said driving shaft; a secorid pinion pivotally mounted relative to the shaft and in engagement with said firstnamed pinion; a plate having a slotted guide ing a plurality of V-shaped teeth projectingfrom one end thereof; a second pinion pivotally mounted relative to the shaft and meshing with said first pinion; a sleeve keyed to said shaft and slidable relative thereto, and havingia plurality of V-shaped teeth at one end adapted to mesh with the teeth on the first-named pinion; and a spring on said sleeve'adapted to force the sleeve into proximity to the first-named pinion.

3. In combination with the toothed flywheel of an internal combustion engine, a starter shaft, a pinion mounted upon and driven from said shaft, 9. second pinion in mesh'with said first pinion and mounted to swing about'the axis of thefirst' pinion into and out of mesh with the teeth of the flywheel, a fiat sided shank on said second pinion, an arcuate guide against which the flat side of said shank bears while in inoperative position and by means of which the pinion is prevented from rotating, said guide terminating short of the'operative position of the pinion, and resilient means for holding said second pinion in inoperative position, the direction of rotation of the starter shaft being such as to cause the pinion thereon to move said second pinion into operative position against the action of said resilient means.

4 In amotor drive for internal combustion engines, the combination of a driving shaft, a pinion on said driving shaft, a second pinion pivotally mounted to swing about the axis of the first named pinion and meshing therewith, means tending to swing said second pinion out of operative position with relation of the load to be driven, and means for positively locking said second pinion against rotation during its movement toward operative engagement with the load.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

WILLIAM J. EICHENBERG. 

